In the ’90s, she starred in films like Ghost and A Few Good Men, which helped her reframe her challenging upbringing. Reflecting on her childhood, she acknowledges that while a nurturing family might have boosted her self-esteem, it could have hindered her drive for a better life. Survival mode instilled in her a strength and willingness to take risks. In her work, particularly in The Substance, she explored her struggles with body image, revealing how intense preparation for roles impacted her health and her daughter’s growth. Ultimately, she emphasizes that self-perception should not be dictated by external shame or expectations.
Over a mere seven years in the ’90s, she appeared in Ghost, A Few Good Men, Indecent Proposal, Disclosure, The Scarlet Letter, Striptease, G.I. Jane, and more. This success allowed her to reassess the hardships and obstacles she faced growing up. She wonders if being brought up in a more supportive and dependable environment would have been beneficial, ultimately cultivating better self-esteem. Perhaps, she muses. However, it might have left her complacent, lacking the drive to forge a better path for herself. “While I may not have recognized it during my survival mode, I can now clearly see that I possess a unique strength, motivation, and resolve. Even as a young person without a safety net, I was willing to take risks because I had nothing to lose,” she reflects. “These experiences have shaped me in ways that, looking back, I wouldn’t alter.”
Creating The Substance revealed to Moore her growth in various aspects as well. In Inside Out, she openly discussed her struggles with body control throughout her career, aiming to achieve a physique that would allow her to feel at ease under the camera’s gaze. While nursing her second child, she pushed herself to such an extent in training for the military uniform she wore in A Few Good Men that it hindered her daughter’s growth. Now, she seizes every chance to promote the film’s message, which she passionately believes: the real harm comes not from the shame or expectations imposed by others, but from the choices we make to let those influences dictate how we perceive ourselves.